What does Kawaii mean?
If you’re curious about what Kawaii means, look no further- Coming from the phrase ‘Kao Hayushi’ (glowing face), Kawaii refers to anything cute and adorable. This means lots of pastels and fluffy textures, as well as cat ears, hair clips, and general Kawaii accessories. Japanese fashion is often at the forefront of modern alt clothing, so it’s no surprise that the Kawaii aesthetic moved so quickly into worldwide popularity. Kawaii clothing often overlaps with other aesthetics and styles, like the recent pastel-goth movement, or other Japanese subcultures like Lolita fashion and Harajuku clothing.
Building your Kawaii outfit- Blue Banana’s Head-to-toe Guide:
What makes a Kawaii outfit? Well, we mentioned that pastels are important, and that a cute vibe is key above all else. But there’s always a little wiggle room- you can lean a little more Gothic, and achieve a Kawaii meets Lolita look, or you can wrap yourself up in graphic rainbow jumpers and call it a day. Either way, it’s always useful to find a Kawaii store with every product you could possibly need. From clothing to accessories, bags, footwear, and even hair dye, we have everything you need to create an entire Kawaii outfit cheap. Keep reading for our advice on how to build the ultimate Kawaii outfit.
Kawaii Hair-
To get the Kawaii look, you need to truly embody a cute and colorful aesthetic. This can be by simply adding some pops of color into your clothing or accessories. Or, you can truly commit to the aesthetic, and dye your hair! Kawaii hair can be any color you want, but we think that pastel tones lend themselves to a Kawaii outfit the best. To achieve a Kawaii hairstyle, browse our range of pastel hair dye, and find the perfect color for you- want a classic pastel pink? Try our Crazy Color Rose Gold Semi-Permanent Hair Dye.
With our recent hair dye clearance sale still going strong, you can stock up on your pastel hair dye and buy 4 packs of Crazy Color Hair Dye for cheap!
Or, check out our Manic Panic Creamtones for gorgeous pastel shades like the orange Semi-Permanent Dreamsicle Hair Dye.
Our Manic Panic hair dye is vegan, cruelty-free, and features a nourishing and conditioning formula. With easy-application pots and our multibuy offer, there’s never been a better time to try out some semi-permanent pastel hair dye! Shop pastel hair dye with our Kawaii sales here.
Want a pastel shade that you can’t find in our Creamtones range? Get the Manic Panic Pastel-Izer!
With a classic cream formula, the Manic Panic Pastel-Izer is inter-mixable with any of the Manic Panic Classic Color or Amplified hair dyes. Get a little creative, and turn your house into a salon with the Manic Panic Pastel-Izer; perfect for curating your signature pastel shade!
Please note: pastel hair dye works best on pre-lightened hair. For bright and vivid results, consider bleaching your hair first. Read our hair dye guides here for more information.
Kawaii Clothing-
Once you have the perfect hair for your Kawaii look, it’s time to start finding the perfect clothes. We have some great centre-pieces to get you started:
Our first favorite is the Banned Nola Pastel Rainbow Jumper, currently on sale.
This pastel jumper works perfectly as the foundation for any Kawaii or soft-Goth look. With a soft, comfortable knit and gorgeous pastel stripes, this alternative jumper is the perfect Kawaii sweater for this look. As we start to head into the warmer months, you might prefer a short-sleeved top. Try the Jawbreaker Flower Skull Top, also currently on sale.
This stunning blouse top features a Gothic pattern with bright red colors, ideal for a Lolita take on the Kawaii aesthetic. Pair your chosen top with our Hell Bunny Lottie Jeans.
These fun mum jeans feature a classic blue denim wash, with adorable graphic patterns covering the entire leg. The pink colors and funky illustrations are perfect for a fun Kawaii look- when it comes to Kawaii fashion, Hell Bunny is one of the best quality clothing brands! Prefer a skirt? Try our Heartless Louella Skirt (currently on sale).
This timeless black mini skirt is ideal as a staple layer to any alt aesthetic, and it pairs beautifully with an edgy top like our Jawbreaker blouse, creating a Lolita style. To really lean into the Lolita aesthetic, keep layering- you can browse our petticoats and fishnet tights for the perfect additions to the look, or take a look at our lace gloves for a soft-Goth spin!
Feel free to get as creative as you want- you can change up your Kawaii look depending on the weather, occasion, and mood. In the colder months, check out our fluffy coats and jackets, as well as our novelty ear hats. During the summer, strip off the outer layers, and decorate your Kawaii top with one of our Gothic harnesses for a soft-Goth aesthetic.
Ready for some accessories? Keep reading!
Kawaii Accessories-
Once you’ve got the perfect Kawaii outfit figured out, it’s time to accessorise- Japanese aesthetics like the Kawaii trend and the Harajuku subculture are all about excess and layering, so make sure to make the most of our clearance sale, and stock up on alternative accessories!
First things first- bags. You’ll need a handbag to go with your Kawaii outfit, and we’ve got you covered. For a pastel look, check out our Blue Banana Fluffy Kawaii Handbag in yellow and pink.
For jewelry, you can browse our alternative chokers and Alchemy Gothic rings. To finish off your adorable pastel outfit, we recommend the Blue Banana Cat Face Earrings.
These cute cat earrings feature an adorable design and some vivid colors; perfect for pairing with a pastel outfit! We also stock a wide range of alternative hair accessories. Want the perfect soft-Goth finishing touch? Check out our Blue Banana Bat Felt Hair Clip.
Add some extra cuteness to your hair with the Bat Felt Hair Clip, and get the perfect pastel-goth outfit! We have plenty of alternative accessories cheap and on sale, so browse Kawaii hair clips and Kawaii gifts, and find the perfect finishing touches to your alternative look!
Kawaii Footwear-
We’ve finally reached the last part of the outfit. It’s now time for footwear, and you’ll be pleased to know that we have a huge selection of Kawaii shoes and boots available. Shop the range below:
For a statement boot that’s sure to pair well with a Kawaii look, go for our Dr Martens 1460 Pascal Boots in fuschia pink.
These classic 1460 Dr Martens feature the iconic rubber soles, yellow stitching, and 8-eyelet design of all Dr Martens ankle boots, but with a distinctive fuschia pink color. This bright and dramatic color will be the perfect contrast with the soft pastels and black shades of your Kawaii clothing. Plus, with high-quality leather and a durable design, these alternative boots will last you a lifetime. Want something more summer-friendly? Check out our Dr Martens Gryphon Quad Platform Sandals in pink!
Our range of alternative Dr Martens sandals feature a gladiator design, giving your feet much more room to breathe in warmer weather. These pastel pink platform sandals are perfect for pairing with a pastel-Goth look! Finally, for a Lolita-inspired outfit, check out these new Dr Martens Elphie II Ballet Flats.
From our new range of Dr Martens x Wednesday footwear, the Elphie Ballet Flats feature an adorable wrap-around ballet design, perfect for a more delicate Lolita look. Pair a skirt and petticoat with the Dr Martens ballet flats to finish off your alternative Kawaii outfit!
You should now have an entire Kawaii outfit, head-to-toe! From pastel hair dye to Kawaii footwear, we hope that we’ve given you enough inspiration to create your own individual Kawaii outfit. With hundreds of products available on our website, and plenty of alternative promotions to help you out, this is the perfect time to jump on the trend and get your very own Kawaii outfit!
Tag us with your Kawaii styles at @bluebananauk.
